Phylogeny of Blattoidea (Dictyoptera: Blattodea) with a revised classification of Blattidae

• Published in: Arthropod systematics & phylogeny Vol. 80; no. 7; pp. 209 - 228
• Main Authors: Djernæs, Marie, Murienne, Jérôme
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dresden Pensoft Publishers 15.06.2022; Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
• Subjects: Blattidae; Blattoidea; Classification; Cockroaches; Cryptocercidae; Datasets; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Genes; Geographical distribution; Isoptera; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Polyzosteriinae; Termites; Transfer RNA; New Zealand; New Guinea; Australia; New Caledonia
• ISSN: 1863-7221; 1864-8312
• DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e75819

Blattoidea are comprised of the major lineages Blattidae, Lamproblattidae, Tryonicidae, Anaplectidae, and Cryptocercidae + Isoptera. Despite a number of studies, no consensus exists regarding the relationships between these lineages. Additionally, the current division of Blattidae into Archiblattinae, Blattinae, Macrocercinae and Polyzosteriinae needs phylogenetic testing. We present a molecular phylogeny of Blattoidea recovering all the major lineages as monophyletic with Lamproblattidae as sister to the remaining Blattoidea and Tryonicidae as sister to Cryptocercidae + Isoptera. Contrary to many previous studies, we found a high degree of consistency between analyses, possibly due to improved taxon sampling. We found that none of the currently accepted subfamilies of Blattidae are monophyletic. Mapping of distribution revealed a clear geographic structuring at odds with the current subfamilial classification. Based on results from this and other studies, we present a revised classification of Blattidae: we erect two new subfamilies, Eurycotiinae stat. rev. and Austrostylopyginae subfam. nov. , reinstate Duchailluiinae stat. rev. and subsume Macrocercinae in Polyzosteriinae. We also present a division of Polyzosteriinae into tribes: Polyzosteriini, Methanini stat. rev. , Rothisilphini trib. nov. , and Celatoblattini trib. nov. Within Blattidae, Duchailluiinae is sister to the remaining taxa, while Austrostylopyginae is most likely sister to all other Blattidae except Duchailluiinae.